The United States government is concerned about new threats of Iranian-backed terrorism against diplomats and high-profile religious leaders in the Middle East from operations by Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

“Iran continues to be a malign influence in the region and play a destabilizing role, especially in support of the Assad regime and Hezbollah,” said a State Department official involved in Iranian affairs.

“The department takes threats to its personnel seriously and takes necessary precautions to ensure their safety,” the official said, without elaborating.

The official made the comments when asked about new fears disclosed to the Free Beacon by a security source in the Middle East on Wednesday that the IRGC is planning a new round of terrorist kidnappings of foreign diplomats and others.